As we reported this morning, the Republican members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee boycotted today’s markup of the clean energy bill. Only Senator George Voinovich showed up, and with the sole purpose of arguing that the commitee needs more time to study the bill. Senator Arlen Specter said of the apparent partisan politics, "We have seen a pattern of really excessive partisanship. During my time in the Senate, I have been part of very heated disagreements, but they have been disagreements on the merits, the substance…But you can’t disagree with an empty chair."